262 EGGS OF THE RRED WARBLER^ ETC. 



Normanby-by-Spital, ia this county. It was in a small piece of reaped stubble, 

 on a strong, cold, wet, clay soil, where I had seen it a few days before, but 

 was unable to get a shot at it. 



I find in the "Zoologist" two theories to account for the occurrence of the 

 Quail in winter. One writer supposes that the bird he saw had been wounded, 

 and was consequently unable to join the migrating flock. Another writer sug- 

 gests that, as at the tin)e he saw a Quail, there had been no severe weather, the 

 mildness of the season might sufficiently account for a bird being left behind. 



With regard to the bird I saw killed last February, it had no appearance 

 of having been wounded. Up to that time the weather had been remarkably 

 open; but within a fortnight set in that snow-storm, which will be remembered 

 as the severest which has occurred since 1814. 



The points of observation which I would suggest, as being most likely to clear 

 up the doubt attending the occurrence of a few stragglers in winter, are these : — 

 The precise date of their being seen; whether the specimens are male or 

 female; whether the birds appear to have been wounded or not; whether there 

 is any reason to suppose they are travelling at the time they are observed, 

 or whether they seem to be in winter quarters; their condition; the general 

 character of the season; and the nature of the soil and cover in which they 

 are found. A few accurate observations on these points would, I think, go 

 far to solve the questions — Whether the Quail is to be classed as a partial 

 migrant? or, whether those few that stay with iis in winter, do so from 

 some physical inability to join in the general migration. 



I have endeavoured to set out a correct account of our knowledge, and its 

 progress, of the migration of the Quail; and if by your kindness in publishing 

 it in "The Naturalist," it succeed in directing attention to the cause of a 

 few not migrating, at all events not joining in the general migration, I shall 

 hope to have done something towards clearing up the main point, on which 

 I think information is wanted with regard to the habits of the Quail. 



Hector^, West Rasen, Lincolnshire, August 27th., 1853. 



EGGS OP THE 

 REED WARBLER, WHINCHAT, W^HEATEAR, ETC. 



BY STEPHEN STONE, ESQ, 



Mr. C. W. Brown's assertion, contained in last month's number of "The 

 Naturalist," vol. iii., page 13G, in reply to a query by a correspondent in a 

 previous number, that "the Reed Warbler's egg is precisely like the Blackcap's, 

 but rather larger," should be received with caution. How close a resemblance 

 there may be between the eggs of these two species found in his neighbourhood, 

 is a point upon which I am not in a condition to speak, and therefore shall 

 not presume to do so; but between those produced in this locality, the resem- 

 blance is by no means striking. The egg of the Reed Warbler, (Salicaria 



